Combination torch holder and paint scraper



'f 5, 1954 E. J; MARESCA 2,664,945

COMBINATION TORCH HOLDER AND PAINT SCRAPER Filed June 9, 1952 INVENTOR EVERETT 1.. MARESCA.

ATTOR NEY Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION TORCH HOLDER AND PAINT SCRAPER Everett J. Maresca, Baldwin, N. Y. Application June 9, 1952, Serial No. 292,461 9 Claims. (01. 158-13.6)

This invention relates to a torch holder and paint scraper, particularly to a combination device of the above category adapted for use with the nozzle of a gasburner.

In removing paint from a surface, such as the hull of a boat, the common practice has been to separately burn and scrape off the paint, the operator generally holding a burner in one hand andthe scraping tool in the other, and directing them simultaneously. Because of the obvious difficulty of coordinating both hands in proper relation to the surface being worked on, inadvertent scorching of the surface often takes place,

resulting in damaged and unsightly areas. Although some attempts have been made to employ tools for the purposeof combining the two operations, it has been found that they are either too cumbersome for effectively controlled and uniform action, or insufficiently adjustable for different conditions, such as different paints, surfaces and fuels, whereby it is often necessary to replace the entire unit to suit each condition. With such conventional devices, it is also generally necessary" to employ an entirely new unit when the burner or scraper has outworn its usefulness.

It-is within the contemplation of my invention to provide a convenient implement which can serve both as a holder for a torch and as a paint scraper, the device being adapted to removably receive different burner elements of variouscommercial forms and sizes. And in this aspect of my invention it is a further object to enable replacements of worn out burners. and blades to be readily made. It is a further object of my invention to provide for a variable relation between the scraper blade and a burner operatively supported by the holder, the relationship being adjustably effected by a simple manual adjustment. And in this aspect 'of my invention it is a further object to enable a ready change of the distance between the scraper edge and the flame tip to be effected, in accordance with the requirements of particular flame intensity and the physical condition of'the surface to be scraped.

It is a further object of my invention to provide, in a device of this category, a combination of hand gripping portions for easy and efficient two-hand operation and for such effective control of the burning and scraping operation as to reduce to a minimum the time required therefor, and at the same time to eliminate the danger of inadvertent scorching of the wood.

It is within my contemplation to provide a light portable and readily fabricated device,

2 operatively employable with conventional gas and liquid burners or jets connected to a source of fuel or steam supply.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred form of my invention connected to a fuel supply hose, and showing the flame and scraper blade operatively being applied to a painted surface.

Figure 2 is a top view of the hand gripping portion of the burner holder of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the device of Fig. 1, shown partly in section, illustrating an adjusted position of the blade with respect to the flame tip.

Figure 4 is an end view of the front portion of the device shown in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of lines 4-4, a fragment of the blade and base being shown in section, the burner being removed.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary bottom view of Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a top view of Fig. 4 also showing the burner member in place, it being a section of Fig. 1 taken substantially along line 66.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the scraper blade shown in the previous figures.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the lower portion of Fig. 4.

Figure 9 is an end view member, substantially like but without the blade and bushing in place, and I Figure 10 is a section of Fig. 9 taken along line I9l 0 thereof.

In the preferred form of my invention illusr he nozzle clamp II is shown consisting of two separable halves I2 and I3, each half containing walls and I5 which combinatively form an internal conical wall I6 tapering inwardly from the rear end Ila to the forward end IIb of the clamp, the arrangement being such as to accommodate a conical burner nozzle I8. Components I2 and I3 have oppositely extending flanges I9I 9 and 20-20 in facing relation and adapted to be secured together by screws 2! extending through countersunk holes 22 in flanges l9 and in threaded engagement with the tapped holes 23 in flanges 20. The top of the clamp II contains the pad 24 upon which is positioned the base 25 of the burner holding that shown in Fig. 4, base, and showing a of the handle 26, the screw 21 extending through the hole 28 in base 25'and being in threaded engagement with the tapped hole 29 extending downwardly fromthe upper surface of pad 24 .01: blade 449 beingr pnliedito-thersai thelhandle m are sim. 1taneous1r,--h dnthereris through the conical surface i6 of the central passageway 30.

The bottom of clamp l I contains the apertured fiat bar 3| disposed between the bifurcated 40 comprising a thickened rear portiprrAl and a forwardly disposed relativelvthirr plate 42, the front wall 43 of said thickened portionfl serving' as an abutment for the blade member Ahresting against the underside 450i plate 42. It Willbe' obs ved that the said un ersi fl fiq i ms v 2o ribs 45; these being paraller'and'extending-long} tudinally along --pl te 42'." The blade 44 has-two parallel longitudinal grooves 41' proportioned and spaced; to -receive therein-said ribs-48*, the arrangement being suchthat the blades can'readily be set into their predetermined proper position on,.base .40, V I V V Extending-through the countersunk hole 48* of the-blade '44 "is the screw 50? the shank 5 l' of V which-extendsthrough; and is in threadeden gagement withthe tapped-hole, 5 I of the basal. The serrated tipilof the said screw is; in' engagementwith the serrated' peripheral portion of the bar,.3-l.'- The arrangement is, hence such that the-said screw-5fl-=serves-the double purpose or '3 holding the blade 44 against-the-base and also engaging the peripheral portion 53 0f the bar 31 to maintain the;-clamp member-H and the burner'nozzle 'IBTSHQDOIfifid iZhBIBbY in a-pw determined position; 7

As illustrated-the burner-member- HI is-a combination nozzle and mixer, the rear portion-54 containing a plurality-of airin'let apertures 55 ,rconnecting with the interior mixing chamber 55 inwhich is located the. gas tip 51" of the fitting 58 which'gie in threaded-engagementwiththe tapped hole- '59-"ofsaidfrear portion 54E Said fitting 58 is arrextended'portionofthegas pipe ew -which with the" valvemember- 6 l the inlet portion of which is operatively -con nested to-the fue1=-'-sup 1y =-hose- 62 im obvious 'Ime-said-pip'e --60 =hasmounted thereovePtheha-nd gripping-portion 63; adia'cent-the said rear portion 54 of the burner memberz The connections'are suchthat-fuel fromassuitable source of supply will pass through-.=- hose---62,

througnwalve 6 l5 andtpipe= ,Lto. emergeefronntip iit'r wheres it; with; the; rain; drawnerinto chamber 5h: .The ignited mixturejorms -flame' 64.

Inthezoperative useof this:device-,1hand"gri1r- 1 nin nortion fiiiand'lhandle leiaresgrasnediby the 60 two: hands 3.0.1 5 the, operatpr; and: the: $0015 applied to: heepainted: asurface :the. cutting-ra es as "surface-=65 Of; the

and: thesdevicei 0-.-ti1ted: that: the; p

fiame lla sosbe;inr neae m n t thenainted 05 Y,

surf 655 in; a -position; iorwardly; :from blade edge. 5;; Itawill be -noted. thatrthe handle -26 xtends a eer a di j ir mrer ne ativewdi-rection t-=.o3.=;th s rap r;that: DR Y; t e pect h $947113; cutting- -portion or; the blade, thereby 1 amine: m fis'c iv ui in mumment q h ron; a ed Sin esbotht heg innin HQrtion-fit and an au maticr copneratio b tw en meecuttine edge of the blade and the flame, requiring no M liasQ QEs Eg rIema iem separate manipulation by each hand as is necessary in conventional scraping and burning methods. As the implement is being guided upwardly in the direction A, the flame is effective in heating and softening the paint, and the blade in continuously removing the heat-treated paint, all in the single operation.

Ititis required to vamrthetdistancebetween the cutting edgcf fifi orinthe'blaidg and ithe tip of the flame, all that need be done is to loosen screw 50 and rotate bar 3| (and the clamp associated therewith) about the shank 35 of screw figtherebyachanging the anglebetween the base eno. the longitudinal axis of the clamp member l l,.- .thereaiter tightening'the screw again. For'exaniplfby referring to Figure 3 it will be seennthaittthe distance B between the cutting V I edge Giro: the blade and the tip 61 of the flame is 'less "than the corresponding distance C in Figurel. Such adjustment makes it possible to,

accommodatethis too? for use iwith fuelslproducing difirent heat intens'ti'es; andvromidifierent e thea adjustment is types of paint; When: effected, all that need be'fdone-istormaintain the parts in: their adjustedi position for that particular' job-. g f l J It will-be not'ed thatscrewafl'not onlytholds the handle 2fi inplace 'butds alsoimengagement with I the outensurfazc ofi the burnersnozzleif. ht. ummy-sham:int-mg. 3,' itherebylt.beirig effec';

tivle 1 to holdthe muzzle; l against: displacement:

Should it ibe-rdesiredrato remove the burner :ior

replacement withnanothem:allzthataneedaberdione 7 .Burners rof difierent Qfi; $116 w ia to loosensaidifiscneub =21. sizes;:- can pbe reafilyrinsentei becaufiflz separable :arrangemerrtzof the two; haly'esv t2: and IQ: of the clamp-'memberalrte. 'In-ltheneventrit; is desiredto emplow a;relaztively;z small: burnenmenn her, a :bushingr .081! readily. herziinserteld: within passageway 3n: 1 Asxiliflstrated in Eigunesw; and lmith e bushing-BB:is.disposedgwithirr themassage way 30;.the particular type otibushing; contaimngezau ylindrical. inner- 1 surface? 9:; :to

accommodateza bumenhavingza cylindrical outer suriacezav 1 V inn-1i thus appaneirluthat, my a iI1V$BtiOBT is adaptedlxtoszacconmiodateix burner: nozzles; of

various designs 'imd proportions-sand; to enable "such nozzles to-be used in vaniableecooperative relatio'n 'with a removabie blade '-memb'er;"= The r device} is hence-f extremel'y flmbl" v neer i ee dth rs'qnd ii "i of removih'g pain't from 'surfacesi an toperableflto efiec a mu e us crapinsfoperationn been disfci sedmerelipywayigorg leam-11in r leasa le e ste e fi e m u termined position relat've tofthe cl'ainp' m the-laborer description; ,tiiipiii'veritibn has anmmmaaen a ;eemadethrein.

' rauma 7 W ls o r h eh heearwn bm r 2. In a combination torch holder and paint scraper, a. hollow clamp member with a substantially central passageway therein extending axially from the rear to the front of the clamp, whereby the wall of the said passageway will be adapted to engage the outer surface of a torch nozzle operatively inserted within the clamp, a blade member pivotally connected to the clamp member about an axis disposed transversely to the axis of the clamp member, said blade member extending forwardly beyond the front of said clamp member, means to releasably lock the said blade member in predetermined position relative to the clamp member, and a handle attached to the clamp member.

3. In a combination torch holder and paint scraper, a hollow clamp member with a substantially central passageway therein extending axially from the rear to the front of the clamp, whereby the Wall of the said passageway will be adapted to engage the outer surface of a torch nozzle operatively inserted within the clamp, a blade member pivotally connected to the clamp member about an axis disposed transversely to the axis of the clamp member, said blade member extending forwardly beyond the front of said clamp member, means to releasably lock the said blade member in predetermined position relative to the clamp member, and a handle attached to the clamp member and extending rearwardly beyond the rear of said clamp member.

4. In a combination torch holder and paint scraper, a hollow clamp member with a. substantially central passageway therein extending axially from the rear to the front of the clamp, whereby the wall of the said passageway will be adapted to engage the outer surface of a torch nozzle operatively inserted within the clamp, a bracket pivotally connected to the clamp member about an axis disposed transversely to the axis of the clamp member, a blade removably attached to the bracket and extending forwardly beyond the front of said clamp member, means to releasably lock said bracket in predetermined position relative to the clamp member, and a handle attached to the clamp member.

5. In a combination torch holder and paint scraper, a hollow clamp member with a substantially central passageway therein extending axially from the rear to the front of the clamp, whereby the wall of the said passageway will be adapted to engage the outer surface of a torch nozzle operatively inserted within the clamp, a bar joined to the clamp member, a bracket with a bifurcated extension comprising two arms flanking said bar and pivotally connected thereto about an axis disposed transversely to the axis of the clamp member, a blade removably attached to the bracket and extending forwardly beyond the front of said clamp member, a threaded fastener securing said blade to the bracket and in frictional engagement with said bar for releasably maintaining the bracket and bar in selected relative positions, and a handle attached to the clamp member.

6. In a combination torch holder and paint scraper, a hollow clamp member with a substantially central passageway therein extending axially from the rear to the front of the clamp, whereby the wall of the said passageway will be adapted to engage the outer surface of a torch nozzle operatively inserted within the clamp, a bracket pivotally connected to the clamp member about an axis disposed transversely to the axis of the clamp member, said bracket having a base with an abutment wall thereon, a blade removably attached to said base and in engagement with said abutment wall, said blade extending forwardly beyond the front of said clamp member, means to releasably lock said bracket in predetermined position relative to the clamp member, and a handle attached to the clamp member at the side thereof diametrically opposite the bracket.

7. In a combination torch holder and paint scraper, the combination according to claim 6, said handle extending rearwardly beyond the rear of said clamp member in the general direction of the axis thereof.

8. In a torch holder and paint scraper device adapted for operative use with a torch having a nozzle and a rearwardly extending fuel pipe with a hand grip thereon, the combination of a hollow clamp member with a substantially central passageway therein extending axially from the rear to the front of the clamp, whereby the wall of the said passageway will be adapted to engage the outer surface of said nozzle, a blade member pivotally connected to the clamp member about an axis disposed transversely to the axis of the clamp member, said blade member extending forwardly beyond the front of said clamp member, means to releasably lock the said blade member in predetermined position relative to the clamp member, and a handle attached to the clamp member and extending rearwardly beyond the rear of said clamp member in a direction generally toward said hand grip, whereby the said hand grip and handle may be coactively held by the two hands of an operator.

9. In a combination torch holder and paint scraper, a hollow clamp member with a substantially central passageway therein extending axially from the rear to the front of the clamp, whereby the wall of the said passageway will be adapted to engage the outer surface of a torch nozzle operatively inserted within the clamp, a bracket pivotally connected to the clamp member about an axis disposed transversely to the axis of the clamp member, said bracket having a base with an abutment wall thereon and a rib extending transversely to said abutment wall, a blade removably attached to said base and in engagement with said abutment wall, said blade having a recess proportioned to receive therein said rib when the blade is operatively in place, means to releasably lock said bracket in predetermined position relative to the clamp member, and a handle attached to the clamp member at the side thereof diametrically opposite the bracket.

EVERETT J. MARESCA.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,044,326 Wilson Nov. 12, 1912 2,270,625 Dilts Jan. 20, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 10,134 Great Britain Apr. 26, 1911 

